War in the Pacific Historic Resource Study

I. Asan Beach Unit (continued)

Asan Landing Beaches

No. 33. Seawall. This rock and concrete seawall is within the park boundaries and is owned by the Government of Guam. It is near the base of a small knoll on the beach, 2,000 feet west of Adelup Point. It is part of a longer seawall that existed in 1944. The rocky Knoll is separated from Chorrito Cliff by Marine Drive. The original seawall protected the federal road from Agana to Piti that ran along the base of Chorrito Cliff in this area. The existing wall is 75 feet in length and 40 inches in height. (The original wall was about 440 feet in length.) The writer suspects that the wall existed before 1941, when the U.S. government funded maintenance of the road. The wall is subject to potential storm damage. It is recommended that the seawall not be interpreted onsite. Parking on MarinebDrive in this area is extremely dangerous.

No. 33. Seawall, Asan Beach, 1984.

No. 33. Seawall, Asan Beach, 1984.

No. 33. Seawall, Asan.

No number. Civilian Landing Memorial. It is near the beach in front of the present town of Asan and east of the mouth of the Asan River. It is a simple concrete wall with a flagstaff rising from its center. On the wall in front of the flagstaff an artillery round is mounted upright. Good views of the landing beach and the hills to the south are found here. Guamanians gather there annually to commemorate the liberation of their island.

No number. U.S. Landing Monument. It is near the water's edge on Beach Green where the 21st U.S. Marines landed and where the old village of Asan stood. The white, concrete monument is rectangular in shape; at the top of the spire is a metal reproduction of the U.S. Marine Corps insignia. Four metal plaques, one on each side, have texts that outline the history of the battle, list the several commanders, and dedicate the monument to all American dead. The monument was dedicated by Gen. Lemuel C. Shepherd, Jr., Commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps, 1952-1955. In 1944, Brigadier General Shephard commanded the Agat landings on Guam. The area around the monument has been pleasantly landscaped with palm trees. The monument is in excellent condition, requiring only periodic painting. (An identical monument has been erected on Wake island.)

Civilian Landing Monument, Asan Beach, 1984.

U.S. Landing Monument, Asan Beach, 1984.

No. 102. Japanese Pillbox. It is in the water just of the beach approximately on the right flank of Beach Blue. It was severely damaged in the 1944 invasion and is overturned. It is obviously not on its original site and probably was placed there when the Americans cleared the general area for logistical operations. In its ruined state, the pillbox is a dramatic example of the destruction rained on Guam by American firepower. Since it is not in situ, the pillbox could be replaced on dry land to reduce the erosion by the sea. No restoration should be attempted.

No. 102. Japanese pillbox ruins, Asan Beach, 1984.

Nos. 45 and 52. Two Mabini Monuments. They are on the water's edge approximately on the right flank of Beach Blue. The monuments are not associated with World War II. They commemorate the place of exile of a group of Filipino insurgents, including Apolinario Mabini, "the Brains of the Revolution," who had refused to take an oath of allegiance and criticized the American military government. They arrived at Asan in 1901. Most returned to the Philippines in 1902. Mabini himself returned home in 1903, just before his death. The west monument, No. 45, is a crushed coral pyramid having a legend inscribed in marble. It is surrounded by the concrete benches. A chain (some sections missing) encircles the whole. The monument was erected in 1961 by the Philippine-American Council of Guam. The east monument, No. 52, is a simple concrete slab with a metal plaque attached. Some corrosion has occurred to the metal. This marker was erected in 1964 by the Philippines Historical Committee.

Nos. 45 and 52. Two Mabini monuments, Asan Beach, 1984.

No. 45. Legend on Mabini monument, 1984.